Sara SG

[quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1394624906' post='2393378'] Would a fretless acoustic be of interest? I'm looking to sell mine in the near future for a low price, certainly sub £100. It's a cheap instrument, but very good, with a set of flats and the four band pre-amp makes for a variety of acoustic and electric sounds. I'll need to sign up for selling on the forum, even if I don't post an ad for it, but it is one of these, with gig bag... [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbb30ntfl_fretless_akustikbass.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...akustikbass.htm[/url] [/quote] Thank you but I am not looking for a fretless electro-acoustic just yet . Might add one to the collection in a year or so at next birthday!

[quote name='matski' timestamp='1394294963' post='2389998'] As long as it's not a Thunder 1 - had one, was bloody diabolical: awful tone, more neck dive than a Stuka, and was harder to keep in tune than a club singer at chucking out time. However my first fretless was a Thunder 2A - which was great. I would buy this if you wanted a Pinoesque type of sound: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/221220-usa-ebmm-sterling-fretless-ebony-early-bass-with-mutes-reduced/page__p__2385696__hl__fretless__fromsearch__1#entry2385696"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry2385696[/url] [/quote] Thanks for that advice , I was actually looking at some second hand Thunders.

[quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1394041611' post='2387305'] Cheap P-bass copy that you like the neck profile and weight and tear the frets out yourself - I have a friend who has a fetish for experimental modifications and he feeds his habit with whatever Marlin/Encore etc he can haggle the cash converters staff down to £20-£30 for happy in the knowledge that if it all goes pear shaped it has cost less than an evening in the pub and he can take it down to the park if he fancies a game of cricket or use it for self defense in the event of an unexpected zombie apocalypse. RE your heavy P cramping your style, theSquier Mike Dirnt Precision is well worth checking out IMHO, very light for a P-bass and the satin finish neck is really easy to get on with, I went to check out the classic vibe range in the music shops in Leeds recently, and although I dislike signature guitars, I picked it up out of curiosity, and felt it was nicer to wear and play than the classic vibe Ps, although finish wasn't as good and the sound was a bit more aggressive(which I kinda liked but YMMV). [/quote] Thanks for all your answers. I will spend an evening checking and googling all those models. Will defo consider de-fretting a cheap bass. Dear Subsonic Simpleton - My regular bass IS the Squier Mike Dirnt Precision - its the one in my profile photo here. I have been playing it for 3yrs about 10 gigs a year, on most of my recordings too. I love it. It is heavy though! I have an Epiphone hollow bodied bass which of course is much lighter but not so robust for rock gigs. Wearing the Mike Dirnt bass for hours , low slung, (never sitting down!) does give me back pain, particularly because I have a microphone to negotiaite. But hey - no pain , no gain! Just next bass is unlikely to be a Precision! Any new shape puts different pressure points than the the Mike Dirnt has left. Was really impressed by some small light basses I tried on the Cort stand at the Bass Show. No attractive fretless though

Wow, Ive never joined a forum like this (thanks to my pal Roger for recommending) I've just checked in and seen all the replies! Thank you all so much. I will check out every single one of those models. I've already scoured Denmark St and the Bass Show for models to try out. But as Dingus pointed out earlier they seem to be very thin on the ground. I've been monitoring ebay all year and am only finding suitable ones in Scotland and Wales. Would never buy without trying! And I don't think its too much to ask to find a fretless that isn't brown ? :-S There are so many flash guitars out there - why do designers think us bassists are so dull? Yup I know I will be looking for chorus and octave pedals too (do they have to be Bass pedals, or a mate's guitar pedals do short-term?). I already have Bass Synth and Bass Big Muff pedals on my Precision. Will try to find one with fretlines too to help with practice. I know its not going to be easy. Points noted about strings. Im trying to get away from Precision for a change. I've tried a few Jazz basses and they are certainly easier to play and feel lighter than a Precision IMO, but I can't beat the sound of my Precision for my regular rock stuff. I looked at this one, but the words Jazz and Jaco and tabacco brown are really not part of my world! [b] Squier by Fender 2012 Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, Fretless, Sunburst[/b] Such a shame there isn't a Pino signature ice blue fretless or something. I love his playing on the Numan stuff. I go for an 80s style of music - hopefully fretless might make a comeback! It was my birthday last week - still looking to treat myself

I am looking for a new or 2nd hand Fretless 4 string. All advice appreciated as it will be my first fretless. I am looking for a sound like Pino Palladino or Mick Karn The Jaco style basses are a bit off-putting in that respect. I currently play a Precision which I love (only problem is it give me neck ache no doubt due to it being low-slung) Something lighter would be nice Im a lead singer so I usually play without looking at the frets anyway, so I all the threads I have read about dots etc don't seem to apply. As long as I can hear my own playing (in my loud rock band) I am hoping it can manage. Anyway the fretless is mainly for some experimenting and recording so I really don't want to spend too much money on it. As little as possible. Only other requirement is that it doesn't resemble a tree. There seems to be little choice out there - I suppose if I don't want natural wood is has to be black?